Sink retainer



Unite StateSA Patent O This invention relates to the mountingof householdappliances'having substantially at outer anges such as sinks, lavatories, .burners for stoves and other such devices in a larger substantially at surface, such for example as in a counter orsink top. More particularly my invention pertains to the development of an improved Patented May l2, 1959 In the drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts through the several views.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating my improved device for securing appliances in place, shown as applied to the installation of the sink in a counter top or sinkboard.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

F ig. 3 is a view in perspective showing the clip adapted to be positioned in the vertical edge of the cut out portion of the sinkboard or counter top.

F ig. 4 is a perspective view of the retaining clip adapted to be secured to the lower surface of the horizontal flange surrounding a sink or other appliance.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of clip adapted to be secured to the lower surface of the ange method of mounting appliances in such a manner that it is unnecessary to gain access to the space beneath the appliance to install it securely in' place in a substantially at vcounter top surface.

In the installation of sinks and other such devices having surrounding anges mounted in substantially at surfaces to provide a at working area ofdesired proportions surrounding the device, it has been necessary for a workman to gain access to the space beneath the appliance to position and manipulate the fasteners required torsecure the device in place.l This practice has resulted in a wasting of space because it hasbeen impossible to position the appliance close to a vertical wall or to another appliance, space being required to accommodate the necessary fastening devices and to permit the workman to secure the fasteners in place. It has also been diicult for a workman to function efficiently while installing such appliances in locations where space is crowded.

An object of my invention is to provide a mounting for appliances having hat outer anges adapted for align- -ment in larger substantially flat surfaces in such aman- Aner that all of the required fastening devices -may be positioned 'and secured in place from` above the appliance. -A further object of this invention is to provide an appliance fastening construction wherein it is unnecessary for the workman to gain access to the space beneath the appliance either to install the attaching or holding members or to position the appliance vsecurely in place.

Another object of my invention resides in the use of cooperating clamp members, one set of which is installed of the appliance being installed.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 'since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology emplayed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1 it will be noted that my invention is illustrated as applied to an appliance of the sink type 10 having a bottom wall 12 pro'- vided with an outlet opening 14, a front4 wall 16 and a back Wall 18 cooperating with end walls 20 to form a sink receptacle. The vertically extending walls 16, 18 and 20 terminate in a substantially at outwardly extended ange 22 adapted to overlie the upper marginal edge of a counter top or sinkboard 24 having a cut out section26 dening a vertical wall 28 as illustrated in Fig. 2, for the reception of the sink 10.

It will be noted that the outer ange 22 extending substantially perpendicularly with respect to the back wall 18 is provided with a plurality of apertures 30 for the reception of suitable plumbing fixtures.

In the installation of the sink or other appliance .by

my improved fastening device and method, it will be in the vertical wall 28 defining the cut out section 26 of the sinkboard 24. The clips 32 have at top walls 34 vto on 'the vertical edge of the cut out member forming the `respect to the firstmentioned set of clips. Yet a furtherobject of my invention is to provide a simplified method of securing a sink in a sinkboard in such a manner that the cost of installing the sink is materially reduced, and whereby when occasion demands the sink can be readily removed.

Still a further object is to provide a simplified sink holding construction wherein spaced clips may be inserted in the vertical edge of the counter cut out portion to be engaged by spring clip members carried by the lower edge of the sink ange.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings submitted for purposes of illustration only and not intended to dene the scope of the invention, reference being had for that purpose to the subjoined claims.

overlie and engage the upper surface 36 of the sinkboard 24 and a vertical surface 38 to engage the vertical wall 28 of the cut out portion 26 of the sinkboard 24.

Means may be employed to secure the clips 32 in the -vertical wall 28 of the cut out portion 26 of the sinkboard 24. =One` desirable form of securing means consists of a v pierced out section 40 of the vertical surface 38 to project finto the Wall 28 and hold the clips 32 in place therein. The clips 32 have a plurality of spaced pointed projections 37 adapted to underlie the lower surface 39 of the 'sink' or counter top 24. If a counter or sink top 24f greater thickness than the standard 2ML" counter top is encountered the pointed projections 37 may be driven into the vertical edge to more securely hold the clips 32 in place. It will of course be apparent that nails, clips or other fasteners may be employed to hold the clips 32 in place.

It will be noted that the clips 32 have pierced out sections 44 extending angularly relative to the vertical surface 38 of the clip 32 to project into the lower contoured pocket 46 adjacent the lower end of the clamps 48 as illustrated n Figs. 2, 4 and 5.

The clamps 48 may be secured in any desired manner to the lower surface 56 of the llange 22 as by brackets 50 3 spot welded or otherwise secured thereto, as illustrated ar szand'scmrig. 2.

In the utilization of my invention in installing an appliance such as a sink in a counter top or lsnkboard, the contour of tlieisink withinpth'e contines ofthe outer ange 22 is marked ony asinkb'oard 2:4) and thesinkbo'ard 24 is cut in' any convenient manner to provide an aperture thereinifo'rthe reception of the sink orother appliance. A vplurality ofV clipsk 32 are then secured? in the vertical" wall1`28det`ining the cutout section 26 of the sinkboard 24 atspace'dpoints.. around the edge corresponding with' the spacing ofthe clips 48 on the lower surface'ofthe nge'22for the'reception of the'sink. The upperfwa'lls 34loffthe-clips' 32'-are` aligned withthe upper surface 36 of the sinkboard 24 to locate vthe-sink vertically; The clips- 32 are` secured in place bytapping them to project tlieirfpierce'dout prong 40 intov the sinkboard 24as`i1l'ustrated in Fig. 2 to secure the clips in place.`

. -It willi also-benoted that where the'l clamps' 48.` are Welded' or otherwise secured Vto the lower surface56 of the outer ange 22 before the sink is delivered toi the user, vtljie'cutlout portion 26 in the sinkboard 24 is proportionedto dispose the clips 32 inproper` spaced relation relative tothe edge of the sink thatI they can be engagedby the clamps. 48 when the sink 10 is moved to theclamping'position therein. Where the clamps 48 are secured in place priory to delivery ofthe sink a: template or othermarkingf device canbe` employed to accurately locate the'sire andi contour. of the hole 2`6 to be cut in the counter top 24.

Iinthe installation of the sink, aftertheproperlysized holef26` has been cut in the sinkboard or counter top 24 the'1clips232 areLinserted yand are secured in place; The outenedgei of thelowersurface 56-ofthe outer tlange 22 issitreatecb with. calkingv material: as shown at 57, and afteithenecessary adjustments. have vbeen ymade to check the: proper ',alignrnentof.: the clips 32 positioned in the cutout sectionx2'6xof the sinkboard 24`with the' clamps 48 carriedibyrthe'outer flange 22 of the'sink'l, the sinkl is depresseddwnwardly whereupon the pierced out sections 44 of the clips 32 engage the contoured wall 46 otffthemlamps 48 whereuponrthe sink is securely held in placer.

xltt'willfbe. notedzthat inthe installation of the 'sink by my improved method', it is unnecessary, for'the yworkman todo any thing from the underside of thejsink or countertop, ,the clips 32 being inserted from above, andthe ,sink'being installed '.hy'merely depressing it through the cutout section 26i in Ythe sinkboard or counter top 24. Referringto Fig,A 5 it will be noted that amodied form `of myinvention is illustrated. Anelongatcd strip 60 may be secured vto thev lower surface 56 of the flange :'22 of .the sinktor other appliance as by, spaced'spot ywelds 62.

The strip 60 may be formed with spaced contoured sections 64 to.receive contoured sections 66 otclamps 68 generally similar tothe clamps 48 discussedpreviously. In `the-,operation ofthis embodiment the sink or other lappliance.canV be formedv with stripsv 60 secured to the lower surface of the outwardly extending ange 22;- When fthe sink or` other appliance is ready for installation the workman can position a desired number of clamps 68 .in

operative position in the strips' 60, the'indentations'70 4. engaging in depressions in the contoured sections 66 of the-clamps68 to holdthe clamps inplace. The clips-32 in the cut out section 26 of the sinkboard 24 may be positioned to conform with the spacing of the clamps 68.

It will be apparent that the clips 32 adapted to be positioned in the vertical edge of the sinkboard or counter top 24 may be of any desired length. An elongated strip having a plurality of pierced out sections 40 to provide spaced prongs to secure the elongated clip 32 in place may be employed.' Converselyv the clamps 48 carried by the lower surface of-the outer flange of the sink or other appliance may be relatively short. It will also be apparentv that it desired roundedVA clamps' andV clips' on the sink or other appliance-rand on the vertical edge of the sinkboard may be Vemployed for use at the corners. If desired relatively short clips and clamps may be employed to engage each other at the corners without undesirable binding regardless of the angular curvature of the corner.

*ItfWillib"enotedthat` the clamps 48 ha've elongated lower sections 49"`wliicl1` may be grasped and deected inwardly towardthe sink awayfrom the piercedouts'ections 44 of the clipsfiz` to `permit thelreleasing' of the' clamps wh'enft i'sdesiredtoremove the sinkor? other appliance' from the counter or sinkboai'd 242.

If claim:

l. Thecombinationlwith an appliance 'having vertically extending'I sidey walls terminating inasubstantially' flat horizontal outer ange to overlie the'marginal edgesof aY countertop in the area-of a cut outportion'there'in,I the afnge having'v downwardly extended- `vclamps defining pockets c'xpenin'glaterally` outwardlyfr'omthe side walls ofj therappliance'; of clips secured* tofthe' marginal: edges ofta countert'op in ythe arealof -acut out'portion` therein 'an'dliavin'gf downwardly and `inwardly directed projections to` extend into?l the` outwardly' opening' pocketsv of the clamps-carried by theange ofthe appliance.r

2 Anj assembly "ofauf" appliance and attaching clips a'cla'ljted forclamping'engagement-in a' cut outtpo'rtion of a; substantially at surfaced member, the-"appliance havinga-substantiallyat outer ange adapted to overlie thernarginal ledgelof the substantially at surfaced member in the area of the cutout portion and having downwardly extendedlcontoured clamps defining pockets openinglaterallyoutwardly, and the clips having downwardly andlainwardly'directed. projections-to extend into theroub wai-diyZ openingpocketsfotthe clampscarried-by the'ange of theappliance; .the-,clampsfhaving actuatinglportions exytending:beneathl'the projections oflthe `clips whenassembledlin said pockets-whereby theclamps can bei deected angula'rly toi releasel the clips.-

ReferencesfCitedfinlthe'lefof this lpatent UNITED" STATES PATENTS 

